Narrative:

This event was a near miss while in contact with tus approach control. We were descending from 15000 ft to 7000 ft with a clearance of direct to tus VOR. We were on the 123 degree radial about 25 DME from the field when we spotted a twin engine aircraft at our 11 O'clock position doing turn maneuvers. While descending through 8400 ft we received a TCASII advisory. The twin suddenly turned toward us and the TCASII advisory changed to an RA calling for a 1500 FPM climb. We initiated the climb and leveled off at 9200 ft at which time the TCASII alert ended. Approach control then cleared us to 6000 ft and to reduce speed to 210 KTS. We advised approach control of the TCASII RA and that we climbed out of the conflict. He acknowledged and cleared us to 6000 ft and 170 KTS. He also indicated he had the other aircraft on radar. We were not initially aware of that. Later it was learned that the twin had us in sight and that this area was a drop area for jumpers.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR ON APCH HAS CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH JUMP ACFT.

Narrative: THIS EVENT WAS A NEAR MISS WHILE IN CONTACT WITH TUS APCH CTL. WE WERE DSNDING FROM 15000 FT TO 7000 FT WITH A CLRNC OF DIRECT TO TUS VOR. WE WERE ON THE 123 DEG RADIAL ABOUT 25 DME FROM THE FIELD WHEN WE SPOTTED A TWIN ENG ACFT AT OUR 11 O'CLOCK POS DOING TURN MANEUVERS. WHILE DSNDING THROUGH 8400 FT WE RECEIVED A TCASII ADVISORY. THE TWIN SUDDENLY TURNED TOWARD US AND THE TCASII ADVISORY CHANGED TO AN RA CALLING FOR A 1500 FPM CLB. WE INITIATED THE CLB AND LEVELED OFF AT 9200 FT AT WHICH TIME THE TCASII ALERT ENDED. APCH CTL THEN CLRED US TO 6000 FT AND TO REDUCE SPD TO 210 KTS. WE ADVISED APCH CTL OF THE TCASII RA AND THAT WE CLBED OUT OF THE CONFLICT. HE ACKNOWLEDGED AND CLRED US TO 6000 FT AND 170 KTS. HE ALSO INDICATED HE HAD THE OTHER ACFT ON RADAR. WE WERE NOT INITIALLY AWARE OF THAT. LATER IT WAS LEARNED THAT THE TWIN HAD US IN SIGHT AND THAT THIS AREA WAS A DROP AREA FOR JUMPERS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.